Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday defended the targeted killing of U.S. citizens abroad who are suspected of plotting to kill Americans, rejecting critics' arguments that those strikes amount to assassinations.

While not referring directly to the government's drone attack on U.S.-born Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen last year, Holder was unflinching in providing publicly for the first time the Justice Department's legal justification for using lethal force, saying attacks like the strike that killed al-Awlaki fell within "our laws and values."

"Let me be clear: An operation using lethal force in a foreign country, targeted against a U.S. citizen who is a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or associated force, and who is actively engaged in planning to kill Americans, would be lawful," he said.

The attorney general's speech to an audience at the Northwestern University Law School in Chicago marked his most expansive comments on the subject of deadly attacks against Americans since his lawyers in the Office of Legal Counsel wrote a still-secret opinion declaring such lethal attacks are legal and justifiable.

But he said three conditions must exist. The U.S. government must have determined that the individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against America; capture of the suspect is not feasible; and the operation would be conducted within the principles of the law of war.

Holder argued that al Qaeda has the ability to spring surprise attacks and is considered to be continuously planning against to attack on America. Therefore, the law allows for striking even before the "precise time, place, and manner of an attack becomes clear."

"Such a requirement would create an unacceptably high risk that our efforts would fail, and that Americans would be killed," he said.

Holder rejected the charge that the deadly operations violate the government's ban on assassinations and dismissed the notion the strikes fit the definition of assassination at all.

"Some have called such operations 'assassinations.' They are not, and the use of that loaded term is misplaced," he said. "Assassination are unlawful killings," while killings under the conditions he outlined would be lawful.

Holder also took issue with those who have charged the government agencies must get permission from a federal court before taking action against an al Qaeda target.

"This is simply not accurate," Holder said. "Due process and judicial process are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process."

Al-Awlaki and another American, Samir Khan, were killed in September when a drone operated jointly by the CIA and a military unit destroyed a vehicle in which the men were riding in Yemen. Al-Awlaki, who U.S. intelligence officials have said was an operational planner for attacks, was the target of that strike.

Khan was traveling with al-Awlaki and was not specifically targeted.

Court documents show that Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the so-called "Underwear Bomber," told U.S. authorities that al-Awlaki had played a major role in the plot to blow up a commercial airliner en route to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. President Obama later said al-Awlaki had "directed the failed attempt."

The American Civil Liberties Union, which filed an unsuccessful lawsuit challenging the administration's drone program on behalf of al-Awlaki's father, said the speech was "a gesture towards additional transparency," but continued to object to the legal rationale.

"Few things are as dangerous to American liberty as the proposition that the government should be able to kill citizens anywhere in the world on the basis of legal standards and evidence that are never submitted to a court, either before or after the fact," Hina Shamsi, the director of ACLU's National Security Project, said in an e-mailed statement. "Anyone willing to trust President Obama with the power to secretly declare an American citizen an enemy of the state and order his extrajudicial killing should ask whether they would be willing to trust the next president with that dangerous power."

“For example, the government should explain exactly how much evidence the President needs in order to decide that a particular American is part of a terrorist group," Wyden said in a statement released on Monday. "It is also unclear to me whether individual Americans must be given the opportunity to surrender before lethal force is used against them. And I’m particularly concerned that the geographic boundaries of this authority have not been clearly laid out. Based on what I’ve heard so far, I can’t tell whether or not the Justice Department’s legal arguments would allow the President to order intelligence agencies to kill an American inside the United States."

Holder also used the speech to defend the use of civilian courts to try terrorists, noting numerous successful prosecutions.

"The calls that I've heard to ban the use of civilian courts in prosecutions of terrorism-related activity are so baffling, and ultimately are so dangerous. These calls ignore reality," Holder said. "If heeded, they would significantly weaken - in fact, they would cripple - our ability to incapacitate and punish those who attempt do us harm."

And Holder indicated more targeted killings are possible.

"When such individuals take up arms against this country, and join al Qaeda in plotting attacks designed to kill their fellow Americans, there may be only one realistic and appropriate response," Holder said. "We must take steps to stop them in full accordance with the Constitution. In this hour of danger, we simply cannot afford to wait until deadly plans are carried out, and we will not."

He concluded, "This is an indicator of our times, not a departure from our laws and values."

soundoff(1,412 Responses)

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Its not assassination to Murder American Citizens. Its National Security.
When there are literally thousands of lose ends revealing the US Government's
Involvement in the execution of the 911 attacks, It is National Security to change the laws,
like the Patriot Act or NDAA, to give them the Legal ability to track down, spy on, torture, and murder
US citizens to keep their mistakes secret. Be careful about giving too much credibility to this section on CNN.
Stop worrying about the boarder. The Threat is from the inside. 911 was an inside job. Look into it!

If I did not see In GOD we trust and having lived within US all my life I would not exactly know just where I am, at least by the lack of protection of citizenship that is. I see the flag but heck thats all over the world as is the money and the guns and the bombs and the plnanes and of cours4e our judge jury and executioners in Camoflage.

They can do what tehy want becauxzse they can do what they want and Americans like it that, at least it will be awhile before they run out of foreigners to mug and then wanna guess who will be nexyt?

Data points, words phrases symbols and yes our Intelligence does employ iits disinformation personel to monitor even this site with its data points and no am not a conspiracy nut mainly because I do not give a Darn, ya live with what yuu got and watch the dominoes no matter in this nation or rest of world get knocked over, an interesting game to watch. Of course they can kill whomever and yes wherever they want they are the Worlds deciders on who is not a friend but a pliable asset and if not they erase that ones ass....
Notice how carefull thyey are to say AL Q or some associated, What they got a Union, oooh, forgot that will get you assassinated in Latin America if you work for some of US manufacturers.
Unless one iws with the Fianical movers in Africa today, Heaven forbid you reject moving from your lands so a mining operation and try to lead a demonstartion against a Euro?Centric nations interest or yu could just end up being an Associated group, hell talking to the wrong guy or just being in the vidcinity of a wedding party an Associate may attend will in all likelihood wipe out three family linages and al would then automaticly be Afghan Taliban or some one associated with them.
We enlist the NGOS we back door finace, except for our One of a Worlds Faith Based Initiative groups, the only state sanctioned Religion religion in US or near any American overseas p[resence, well finaced and logisticly well supported, God is indeed on our side and God will burn your but if you ever gbet labled a Terrorist by worlds largest Avenging Angels.

Where the hell are Al Sharp-Tongue and Jesse Jack a$* Oh they only get paid for white man never giving the black man a break. DAng It! they could made another billion spouting hatred agaisnt the white man. But this has to be a white man with his finger on that trigger. C'mon jess and al your slipping!

What's the big deal? No one had a problem when Bin Laden was attacked in Pakistan, a terrorist is a terrorist no matter what country they're from.And if you wish to attack the US then you wish to die at there hands. The difference is, if a foreign terrorist in the US was wanted by another country , we'd get them for them. Instead of hiding them.

So much for the rule of law. What will we say when another country takes this same stance against their citizens living in the US? "Drones and assassins are OK!" not exactly the message we need to be sending Iran, Syria, North Korea or Venezuela..

Face it we are living in a different world! I remember every complaining about the original patriot act and how they could phone tap anyone... and usually it was ppl selling pot that was paranoid! If it comes to a point that a person is passed as a person of interest between 3 branches of government and gets hit by a hell fire... if he is a pot farmer in KY then yes its over stepping. But a man that goes on public record waging 'un-declared war against his home county'... screw them!!! When it comes to Waco.... things might have been handled wrong then but; we have done it ever sense the trail of tears... Things happen and its SUCKS! But when someone praises death to women children and men not in uniform then why are we debating this?

If any AMERICAN especially BORN CITIZEN chooses to aide, abide or standby any terrorist or act of terrorism should have no rights under the law. When an individual VIOLATES the USA CONSTITUTION and any LAWS REVISED from it. The only ammendment that individual should be entitled to is that you are no longer protected by the laws of the USA.

It is a sad day when most Americans think it's ok for the Government to assassinate natural born citizens without so much as a criminal CHARGE, let alone a trial. The foundation of freedom in this country is crumbling (by deliberate destruction) before our eyes and so few get it... I'm truly scared for my kids.

No. It's a well oiled machine. Why leave margin for error?
The illusion is complete.

March 7, 2012 at 11:21 am |

Brock

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It is amazing what mental gymnastics that the justice department has been doing to provide a 'legal' basis for its actions. It was started a long time ago (minutes after signing the bill of rights) and was significantly accelerated by Jimmy Carter's FISA in the late 70's and greatly expanded by Bush 2 with further extensions by Obama.

We need to take back our constitiution, bill of rights, and control of our governement. If you are brave enough join me in ensuring that not a single incumbent standing for election is returned to office this fall. Have them wake up Wed morning saying wtf???

Yes by all means, get rid of all of our civil rights so that the government can target anyone IT deems to be a threat. If you are old enough to remember the cold war and the soviet union, you might think for a moment or two and change your mind. If not old enough do a little reading about unchecked government powers.

Would you say the same thing about aclu if you were arrested and imprisoned simply because someone in the government had a problem with you? Likely not you'd be screaming for someone to defend your civil liberties.

So then what you are saying, if I understand you correctly, is that the government can now presume the guilt of an American, and, without the need to try and convict them in a court of their peers, summarily execute them?
Watch out, pal, your time will come.

Not much different really from SWAT, except the geographical reference. The argument about the target doesn't seem as relevant as the argument about locale (foreign country), but even here wartime precedents abound.

I think it's a fine line that has to be walked! We should never veer from our constitution.
However in incidences like OBL! I think it was clear cut, that he was a threat to the U.S. If the decision is based on the same criteria that is used to claim one a terrorist, then I believe what they are doing is just.
I mean surely they can't label you a terrorist for helping an old lady cross the street. Right?

The constitution means nothing anymore.....its true value has been reduced to that of an aged piece of paper with some cool signatures on it. If it meant anything, the American people would have tossed out the current government a LONG time ago......

"the American people would have tossed out the current government a LONG time ago..."?
HAHAHA!
It's been tried. The opposition is pummeled time after time. Why do you think they dream up these draconian laws? To use them againest you!
It's serious stuff. But here we sit with our "parlour" talk...
What's on TV tonight?

March 7, 2012 at 11:41 am |

Skeptic14

It is a sad day when most Americans think it's ok for the Government to assassinate natural born citizens without so much as a criminal CHARGE, let alone a trial. The foundation of freedom in this country is crumbling (by deliberate destruction) before our eyes and so few get it... I'm truly scared for my kids

March 7, 2012 at 12:28 pm |

Julie "Jooolie"

At the state level the government Exploits and uses Americansand branwashes them with "top secret" operations. Then everyone watches as the person who is brainwashed is spit out and no better than annoying shit on someones shoe at that point. I guess–"believe in a greater good for all" or at least hippocratic oath said it best "Do No Harm"

Hmmm do mercenaries ever get rewarded with "US Citizinship" if they are a group of non-americans hired by the US to carry out a task? Just curious.Mercenaries killing Kadafi deserve a slow tortuous death, as do the authority that hired these monsters. ( I think the CIA ) ////just curious...all life observations over the years/

We are no longer a free people. America is over. Lets admit it. Let torture who we please. Lets kill who we please. Let hold without trial who we please.

That's it. Just give up. Lets hold a Lottery for the lucky american who will get to p i s s on a copy of the actual constitution. It will make great TV. (Note Obama Holder have first dibs so you will have to hold their manhoods for them before you get your chance.)

Lmmfao! That was funny. I had no idea you had a sense of humor! Truly, that was funny!

March 7, 2012 at 3:29 am |

Julie "Jooolie"

You have got to be kidding me. What kind of a D. ickhead is this Holder guy? I only coud stomach the first paragraph of the bullshit he was saying. First off, he's a pinhead-these are persons, including a lot of Americans, with a congenital disease, meaning they were born already dumb.Unfortunately, many Americans are like that. And the Americans who have average intelligence never want to expand, their understanding. The scary thing is that many of these idiots are in these governmental jobs, making decisions about who they think is what, what they do, etc when in fact they really don't know, because they just don't know truth. How dare they target people–INDIVIDUALS- for that matter, and tell everybody that crock of shit. To these US gov assholes targeting with LETHAL force you self proclaimed " witch hunters" ooOFF with your heads! 'You're Fired!'

You should join the I hate Obama club!
Oh wait, you have its called the Republican party!
What are people gonna say?
Obama saved the auto industry!
He got Osama bin laden, something G.W. Bush couldn't do in 7 years!
Jobs are being created and not lost!
Unemployment is the lowest its been since GW was in office!
The housing market is improving!
The stock market has been above 13000 all week long!
It just crazy what this man is doing to our country! Somebody stop this man, before he fixes our country completely!

No, thats not what im saying at all!
I love our country, and our constitution.

March 7, 2012 at 3:33 am |

DumbDems

Wow, let us examine your comments here, since you are obviously incompetent:::::

"Obama saved the auto industry!" –> No he bailed it out, and now Government Motors is moving to China, good job Osama on saving the US jobs
"He got Osama bin laden, something G.W. Bush couldn't do in 7 years!" Too bad how many hundreds of troops died while the nitwit waited 7+ months after they discovered his location
"Jobs are being created and not lost!" What country are you living in?" China or India?
"Unemployment is the lowest its been since GW was in office!" Genius that is only because Unemployment numbers are based on benefit payouts. Most have run out therefore the numbers LOOK lower. Typical Dumbocrat mentality
"The housing market is improving!" Again where are you living?
The stock market has been above 13000 all week long!
"It just crazy what this man is doing to our country! Somebody stop this man, before he fixes our country completely!" Please wait for NaziCare to take effect and your parents get gassed because they are too expensive to care for. Oh wait I forgot Osama did not even read the plan until it was passed. Apparently the monkey didn't have his staff put pictures in the ObamaCare plan. Totally understandable.

March 7, 2012 at 7:46 am |

CNNshill

Parloiur talk you fools.
You all squabble around like babies in diapers crying about puppets. Figureheads (daddy figures) designed to keep you off point. Off target. Amerika is nothing but a MARKETPLACE run by elites who have zero alligiance to it other than securing profit from you. You are manipulated, TV addicted consumers. PERIOD. Look beyond the sideshow. It's hard though isn't? To realize you have been living in a vicious manufactured illusion.
Have a nice day. Move along. Nothing to see here, nothing to see...

March 7, 2012 at 12:11 pm |

ruthie

really ...wake up you are brain washed and uninformed ,yea where have you being living in a cave ...

May 22, 2012 at 1:54 pm |

Old Salt

It's always been okay to kill Americans. They do it in this country all the time.

That is very true, the president could have anyone killed if he sees them as a threat.

March 7, 2012 at 2:10 am |

dakota2000

I was being ironic. Are you being doubly Ironic? I can't tell..

March 7, 2012 at 2:56 am |

Dieyoung

But it is true, if you pose a threat to the nation you could either get arrested or killed legally by the government.

March 7, 2012 at 3:09 am |

dakota2000

I think the key thing here is, did he have his hand on a button and was going to nuke the white house, or was it that he and his buddies can sent the terrorist planning "to committee" and he was just hanging around surfing the internet for porn.

It makes a big difference if the threat was tomorrow, or some vague time in the distant future.

March 7, 2012 at 3:13 am |

dakota2000

Only in a James bond movie....

March 7, 2012 at 3:28 am |

Dieyoung

Yeah, but now someone can kill another person and just tell the police that the person was talking about committing a terrorist act and that person would practically get away with it.

March 7, 2012 at 4:02 am |

dakota2000

After you kill them be sure to drag them inside your house and say they threatened you. You can through the terrorist thing in if you want... and call them a commie sympathizer too. Can't hurt.

The worst form of terrorism was comited by George w Bush, by invade Iraq with false pretense and kill thousand of inocent people, that mean he should get killed by a drone atack? By those who think he is a terrorist?why amaricans don't say he comited crime against humanity. His government kill more people in Iraq than Saddan Hussein during his regime.

Because America doesn't have as much freedom as you think, The government keeps everything in the dark and out of the media. Im pretty sure most of america, (and I) thought that George Bush was a pet monkey for atleast a year or so, after the even dumber monkeys elected him. and again in 2004.

Here you are folks. This an example of the current informed amerikan.
The classic, cliche spewing Bigot.

March 7, 2012 at 12:16 pm |

Stupidu

If every non-american was to go back to their country, imagine what would you be left – N O T H I N G !!! State ordered and okayed killing is not assassination – only in American dictionary and when it suit them

March 8, 2012 at 1:17 am |

Jo

your so well informed. But you didn't even know how to spell the name of our country? do you know spell check exists?

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April 3, 2012 at 12:18 pm |

Meh

I've got no problem with terrorists being wiped off the face of the earth. The trouble is that too many in DC consider returning vets, people on no-fly lists, and any who dare protest them as "terrorists."

You sir are obviously a terrorist. Don't plan to fly in the near future. You are being watched. (do you really think that CNN doesn't turn over all information about you? Your email address, the IP addressed of your computer? PLEASE. you are on the least now buddy.

Yeah bobby I was there and saw him do that.
I seen him drive by, and just thought he was picking his nose. But I think now he was signaling Mexicans that the weapons are in his trunk. Cause right after he shot the law enforcement, he opened the trunk and started handing a gun to every Mexican around. When suddenly the Mexican women broke into a dance while singing "la coca Rocha", and all them played limbo. Just to see how low you could go!
Congratulations! You are the lowest of lows!

It's a pity you don't have a donate botutn! I'd without a doubt donate to this brilliant blog! I guess for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

Oh, Mr Fast and Furious is REALLY good at killing Americans. Just ask the parents of deceased BP agent Brian Terry. Both him and his Kenyan/Muslim boss are the phonyassed THUGS of the century! So sue me- punks.

Many U.S. atheists or religious citizens who commit premeditated murder get killed by the death penalty every year. I wish no one had to die prematurely by the death penalty but that is the way the laws are set up now.
An American Islamist/Muslim terrorist who lives overseas and instigates and causes murders of other innocent Americans, is also guilty of murder and according to the law, he deserves the death penalty. Therefore, if the U.S. sends such overseas murderer a missile delivered by a drone, he just got a speedy trial followed by the legally-deserved death penalty.
If we could not chase American Islamic/Muslim terrorists overseas, every one of them could commit terroristic acts on American soil and flee to the relative safety of foreign lands. Terrorist should learn that if they commit a terrorist act in the USA and flee to another country, there will be a missile with their name on it delivered by a drone; they can run but they cannot hide, at least forever.

I believe Humberto –And with this type of thing..they are targeting INDIVIDUALS–not a group- but INDIVIDUALS. And these individuals good- bad- other...If it were me, and I was going to be killed like that by Lethal Force, I would go to a country like Ireland, cause that extradition wouldn't fly there–everyone knows the US cant get this fugitive –ever- if they plan to use lethal force. Irish don't believe in the death penalty so execute , lethal force..

March 7, 2012 at 4:05 am |

Julie "Jooolie"

Scus I meant Irish dn not believe in the death penalty TO excute///

March 7, 2012 at 4:08 am |

dakota2000

I think you are a terrorist and I will be requesting that the military blow up your house tomorrow morning.

Oh Dakota youre so compassionate! Where did you get such a kind heart? Was it oz?

March 7, 2012 at 2:55 am |

CNNshill

Happened in Afghanistan all the time Dakota.
To the villagers: We need you to move. We have progress coming through here. (i.e: a pipeline)
Villagers: Naa, thanks anyway, but we have lived on this land for GENERATIONS.

Later that evening...
Here are the co-ordinates for the "reported" TERRORIST activities in that area.
Incinerate them.
Well done.
Next?

Why are you such an extremist dude! You say all of these hateful things about Obama, and anyone who supports him.
You call him Muslim, when you know thats not true!

March 7, 2012 at 3:27 am |

dakota2000

First, I never called him a Muslim.
Second, if here were Muslim, I would not have a problem with that.

March 7, 2012 at 4:19 pm |

Art

Didn't President Bush's Justice Department also prepare a secret opinion that waterboarding didn't constitute torture? And now, don't many prominent Democrats want to prosecute and disbar the lawyers who prepared those opinions?

And, did waterboarding kill either kill any subjects or any innocent civilian bystanders? Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. Innocent bystanders weren't killed by drone stikes. They were just collaterally damaged.

Its simply amazing at how liberals view this. Had this been proposed by a republican they would riot.

All of seem to miss the bigger picture of not having due process. So what happens if the US Gov't falsely claims you're a terrorist? They don't have to prove you are a terrorist, they simply have to label you as one for whatever reason they want and they are now free to kill you.

Europe banned gun ownership to prevent revolutions. We need a balance in this country. Republicans have great ideas, so do democrats. It's time we hold our leaders accountable. It's time we get involved in our government. You know why Switzerland works? Everyone owns a gun, everyone is mandated to have health insurance but it is privately run, they vote on weather or not to have federal taxes every 20 years, they only ask for the best. What you are left with is the safest, best designed, healthiest, and wealthiest countey in Europe. The reason being the people take an active role in their government. Don't be hateful, don't be emotional, don't presume,ask questions, but be involved.

The right decision was made because if any threat or harm is made to the USA by anyone of foreign or domestic there only due process under the law should be for the individual(s) to be exterminated COMPLETELY.

This is what is wrong with America. Politics and business have eclipsed the Constitution and Human Rights. Over 1/10 of the population is curently in prison, the vast majority of which were from poor circumstances thus could not afford competant Legal representation. Now, the Attorney General is advocating the MURDER of Americans who disagree with the current political agenda of the U.S. Whats next? Castration for male adults who watch the Disney channel, because they could possibly be attracted to the teens who dominate the shows. This country is headed for Civil War.

Sorry, LEE HALL, but I seriously doubt the Founding Fathers intended for us to interpret the U.S. Constitution to such a literal extreme, that we are unable to take even the most basic common sense action to defend our sovereignty and our citizenry from terrorists and our enemies.
If the U.S. Constitution renders us that ineffective in protecting our nation's interests, I would say it needs revising, which the Founding Fathers DID provide us an avenue for. Clearly, granting our military the legal right to eliminate terrorists, regardless of their national affiliation or citizenship status is a COMMON SENSE measure that better allows us to defend ourselves and our citizens.
Stop trying to create legal backdoors for our enemies, and then trying to hang it on some imagined ethical highground.

No he wouldn't! Just stop it already! Everyone knows youre an extreme, conservative, Christian Republican!. And would vote for Osama bin laden if he was running against Obama! So just stop it with your way over reaching conspiracy theories!

What do you thing 'fast and furious' was? You think it was actually a method to track weapons? The pravda media had been pumping the lie that most weapons used by the neanderthals south of our border were coming from the states. That is abjectly false. Most actually come from the medieval east through venezuela. This most corrupt regime in American history wanted to promote this myth so they could disarm the responsible Americans. To think otherwise would be intellectually dishonest, which illiberal marxists are.

March 6, 2012 at 10:36 pm |

dudley1015

To kill an enemy combatant in a foreign country a war must first be declared. This is a Congressional duty. It has many benefits and offers many restraints. It puts the country and its economy on a war footing. It declares unequivocally who is our enemy and why. It makes war unconditional. this puzzy-footing around with a police action here, a regime change there is not American. If we want war, declare it, fight it, and be done with it. War yes. Assassinations, no. I don't trust Holder to be the one who can make decisions that are clearly in the realm of authority of Congress, not the Executive Branch. He hates an armed American, anyway.

The term, dude, was "armed American". And yes he does hate them. He uses the Constitution when it's convenient for him to do so, and skirts it when it's not. The man's a tool. "Fast and Furious" anyone? He's a lying jerk!

Humberto, sure I can read. Its how I know youre nuts!
And no I haven't seen anything about Sandra fluke stealing from any fund. But apparently you haven't read anything like that either, because you won't post a source, or even know of the fund youre say she stole from.

Jesus Christ in reply to Pontius Pilate, who had assured him of his power of life and death, said he had no power, else it was bestowed by God .. Neither has Obama, and just as Jesus decried those Jews who handed him over to Pilate, as “guilty of the greater sin,” so is Eric Holder.

Obama and Holder's conduct as officials of the United States Government, is unacceptable in the light of the killings .. and for turning from evidence linking Jews to the 911 attacks, else why were 60,000 or so Jews absent from their workstations at the WTC, on the day.

And from the criminality of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among other things .. both must answer charges of capital treason & murder, as Israeli assets, for the premeditated killing of US citizens, for war crimes, and for the 2007 murder of two of Obama's butt buddies, from the days he spent peddlin' his ass at the Chicago bath house!

Not if he can be served. But if he were to hide under an umbrella of another country's security, then yes he probably would be considered a terrorist threatening the lives of individual innocent americans.

While the guy caught in a terrorist act should have been killed but instead gets a trial on Mainstreet USA, the one suspected of it will be summarily executed. Holder is the chief law-enforcement officer of the domestic US, NOT the arm of the CIA or Special OPs whose job it is to get these guys and bring them to the military prison in Cuba.

Thats just it! This guy was caught and can be served, to appear in court.
However in my personal opinion it should be in a military court, as he is not a us citizen, and was part of a regime that we declared war on.

March 6, 2012 at 6:56 pm |

Bill

NOTHING EVER HAS MADE ME THIS F-ING ANGRY.

"The U.S. government must have determined that the individual poses an imminent threat of violent attack against America;"

ISNT THAT WHAT A F___KING TRIAL IS FOR YOU DUMB F-ING SELF-SERVING CONSTITUTION BURNING S–THEAD?!?!?!?

"and the operation would be conducted within the principles of the law of war."

Oh, now its a WAR? WHEN DID CONGRESS DECLARE WAR AGAINST YEMEN?!?!?!?!??!

Nothing has ever made you this f__king angry?
I bet you were pretty angry when Obama beat out McCain/palin in 2008!
And I bet you get even more angry when Obama wins again in 2012. Republicans are so out of touch they want to take us back 100 years.
And their hatred for everyone other than white Christians is intolerable, even by most white Christians. Until they get on the path of live and let live, they won't be winning many more elections. Especially against a great incumbent like Obama!

Yes, if you say something I disagree with, I will declare my point of view! Thats the whole idea of a post. But spoken like a true republican racist, you can't be deterred from you idiotic ideas, and your only argument is to tell others to shut up... Thats so childish, an ineffective. Thats why the whole country see you as the ridiculous fundamentalist that you are!

March 6, 2012 at 7:22 pm |

Your Name Here

politically correct, I'm not a liberal or racist. But I am pretty certain that you're an idiot!

March 6, 2012 at 9:29 pm |

dondijon

Mr. Obama lack a legitimate Certificate of Birth and will be declared a non citizen, a challenge has been made and will force a ruling persuant to Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857), This case was granted Certeriori and AFFIRMED!

March 7, 2012 at 3:29 am |

Eoin

Hey, take up arms against this nation and plot to kill Americans you will lose your life. Don't want to be taken out by a Drone then don't join a terrorists group and don't plan to kill americans. Pretty Simple isn't it?

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Sounds like taking Saddam out was a bad idea, period?
he had nothing to do with 911, there were no weapons of mass destruction.
I've never understood why we invaded Iraq in the 1st place. Considering 15 of the 19 terrorist involved in the 911 terrorist act were from Saudi Arabia.

I say if we know undoubtedly that they are terrorist, TAKE EM OUT! It doesn't matter what country they are from, or in!
We need to trust those we've voted in to lead our country.
i would just like to know the criteria they use to claim if someone is or isn't a terrorist?

I completely understand the definitions of the words in my post.
So I dont really understand what your comment is saying.
Sounds like you want to get rid of our laws and government, and let the pope, and priest run our country?
Thats very dangerous, we would then have unrest here in the USA, like they have in Muslim countries.
our forefathers new this, that is why separation of church and state was put in place!
I say we trust in logic and sound science! And not rely on some invisible being who may or may not exist! and those who live their lives on a literal interpretation of any "bible" is the reason we have so much unrest today. Please people learn to think rationally, and stop looking to your bible (which is the word of man not god) for guidance.

Holder would say that. Just like he thinks it is ok to smuggle guns to Mexico, getting Federal agents and innocent civilians killed, but not for Americans to defend themselves. This guy should be in prison.

What makes one a terrorist? Because the President labeled you as "National Security Risk"? The problem with current policy is that there is no recourse. Once the white house declared you as "Terrorist" you cannot appeal this declaration anywhere. There is no procedure in which you can prove your innocence. You simply get killed. This is a directly opposition to the ideal of not being deprived of life, liberty, or justice without due process.

Then don't anything that will label you as a terrorist. Simple as that.

March 6, 2012 at 5:49 pm |

Cobra-212

The problem with giving the power to declare someone a "terrorist" to one person, is something called abuse of power. What if Mr. O declares his republican opponent in the coming election a "terrorist" and orders him taken out? The way the law is written, there is no challenge to this decision either before or after the fact and any information regarding the rationale and reasoning would be locked up for reasons of national security. What if he did that after losing the election in November and before his opponent took office in January? What if he declared you a terrorist simply because you railed online against a decision of his administration? I can agree that U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in foreign countries, fighting against the U.S. are terrorists. But I would handle this by requiring those who want to travel to and reside in certain countries for non job related personal efforts, to give up their U.S. citizenship. That way they make the choice to be enemies of the U.S. and as non-citizens they have none of the rights of those of us who support and defend our country.

Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507 (2004) establishes the right of U.S. citizens to challenge their designation as enemy combatants, terrorists, whatever(bythe government), through the utilization of a neutral, third party. The killing of an operational planner for an established enemy, in a recognized theater of war, regardless of that individual's citizenship is a legal and justifiable action.

Is going to another country to plot a terrorist act against Americans a crime or an act of war? Please enlighten me as to who was supposed to go execute an arrest warrant on Anwar al-Awlaki? It is not the US military's job to go into a hostile & possibly lethal situation for the purpose of extracting traitors. I'm certainly not willing to ask our military (who has sacrificed so much already) to do that. Sorry, but when al-Awlaki left the US and joined al Qaeda he became an enemy combatant.

War – a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
Crime -an act or the commission of an act that is forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law; especially : a gross violation of law.

Whats wrong with the judicial system that forces such people to to seek such relief ?

March 6, 2012 at 5:15 pm |

Mohammad A Dar

Ya, but do things always in hinduism, criminality in opposition to American constitution.

March 6, 2012 at 8:45 pm |

Meh

And the hammer meets the nail. An excellent point, but one that flies over most other posters' heads and is completely ignored by this Department of "Justice."

But while we're here, can anyone explain why it's okay to deny due process to one terrorist because he's planning something, but demand every Constitutional protection be afforded to those who are caught actually carrying out terrorist acts?

What about ACTUAL combatants? Pretty sure it is illegal for the U.S. Military to summarily execute soldiers. Even they had to go through court martial for treason before executing anyone who they believe is directly aiding the other side.

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CNN's Security Clearance examines national and global security, terrorism and intelligence, as well as the economic, military, political and diplomatic effects of it around the globe, with contributions from CNN's national security team in Washington and CNN journalists around the world.